Phrasal verbs · Free lesson
Clear out: make room in a cabinet
Your cabinet is full of mugs nobody uses. You want space for the dishes you actually need.
Professor Scott MendozaMeaning in this lesson
clear out
Remove unwanted contents from a space, often as part of sorting it.
Example
“We cleared out the kitchen cabinet and donated the extra mugs.”
We removed things we no longer wanted and gave the extra mugs away.
The short answer
Clear out the cabinet and clear the cabinet out both work. With it, use clear it out. The focus is on removing contents, not just wiping a surface.
Think about the contents you remove.
The object can name the storage space. With a noun, either position works. With a pronoun, keep it between clear and out. The past form is cleared. You might donate, recycle, or move unwanted things elsewhere; the verb does not say everything goes in the trash.
Compare the examples
Let’s clear out the cabinet.
Let’s clear the cabinet out.
Let’s clear it out.
Wiping dust off a shelf can leave every object in place. Clearing out focuses on the contents you remove.
Build the meaning step by step
Name the space
Please clear out the drawer.
Replace its name with it
Please clear it out.
Try it now
Clear the meaning up
Read all answers and explanations
You remove unused cups from a cabinet to make space. Which fits?
I’m clearing out the cabinet.Clearing out removes contents. The other choices add contents.
Replace the cabinet with it: Please clear out the cabinet.
Please clear it out.The pronoun goes between clear and out.
Complete: Yesterday, we ___ the drawer and donated the spare supplies.
cleared outYesterday describes the completed past action, so use cleared out.
Build it yourself
Ask someone to clear it out
You mean the drawer already mentioned. Use all four pieces and start with Please.
Keep the pronoun between the verb and particle. Select a piece again to move it back.
Your request
0 of 4 piecesYour chosen pieces will appear here.
See a model answer
Please clear it out.
Please clear it out refers back to the drawer. Clear out it is not the pronoun order.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Must I throw everything away?
No. You can keep useful items and donate or move what you no longer want there. The phrase focuses on removing contents from the space.
We cleared out the cabinet and gave the extra bowls to a neighbor.
Where does it go with clear out?
Put the object pronoun between clear and out: clear it out. With a full noun, clear out the cupboard and clear the cupboard out are both possible.
We cleared it out on Saturday.
Take it into your day
Clear out a space; clear it out when you use a pronoun.
Your next step · Available on Udemy
Learn 350+ useful phrasal verbs.
The English Master Course: Phrasal Verbs covers clear out in home tasks. Build a wider range of expressions with clear meanings and guided practice.
Explore the course English Master Course: Phrasal Verbs